I don't disagree with the article, but I had 2 thoughts form in my mind while reading it:
1) I don't think entrepreneurs (and tech ones at that) have solved any problems, even for the upper classes they cater to. Instead, they have become popular and profitable the old-fashioned way, by creating and filling a need. Even a solution as fundamental as search on the internet is not really helping me lead a better life--though it does make possible the vast stores of knowledge and likely the entire tech sector (including my livelihood).
2) Given 1) above, the entire article essentially seems to encourage people to exploit the under-exploited markets of the unexotic by creating needs there and fulfilling them. I don't really see how entrepreneurs can, for example, fix the bureaucracy of Veteran's Affairs, even if they had a turnkey case-handling solution to sell to them.
Finally, the author of the article had a pedigree as long as my sleeve, but I didn't see any work in the unexotic fields.
Somewhat related thought: where are the non-tech entrepreneurs? Are there solutions that don't require computers anymore? Are there ways to get funding for such a solution?
> Even a solution as fundamental as search on the internet is not really helping me lead a better life--though it does make possible the vast stores of knowledge and likely the entire tech sector (including my livelihood).
I disagree. You can spin this many ways. I look at "search" as solving the problem of "easy access to information" - however one must understand that it is not an unsolved/solved problem (varying degrees of "solved" apply here).
Being able to learn new things, research something I'm working on beyond my direct network of friends/colleagues, and engage with others solves a lot of problems for me. All this information also makes it much easier to re-skill or add new skills to my repertoire.
You've answered him, as well as yourself... It depends on the frame of reference in approaching this... If you take a hovering big picture view, what you say is all good, but in reality, on a individual/micro level, 95% of this "search on the net" business is all about "finding deals", and assorted mindless tivia. :)
Even a solution as fundamental as search on the internet is not really helping me lead a better life.
I disagree. Maybe you are talking about yourself. Google almost changed my life. The productivity boost that it gave me helped in creating the products and shaping the learning curve.
>> where are the non-tech entrepreneurs? Are there solutions that don't require computers anymore?
You know, there are a lot of really broken processes in the world. Ones that don't benefit from computers directly, however indirectly a computer scientist willing to ditch the standard toolset (computer, compiler, etc), could probably make a big splash. We are all trained to think hard about the steps to automate a process - what order is necessary, what order is irrelevant, where can we substitute a functionally equivalent but more efficient mechanism, what constraints and bottlenecks need to be worked around and so on. This thinking usually is just about code, but really, it isn't that different for a lot of other areas. I think you end up seeing computers applied as a solution where they don't fit very well, because that is the tool that does process in our minds.
Perhaps there is money/usefulness/something, in getting away from the computer and finding other ways to apply our skillset.
Regarding your point 1) I agree, but it will never fly in a technology-centric place like this that practically worships anything "tech"! In effect, things like vaccine breakthrough, free sanitation, etc., are much more impactful, but are no longer making headlines or headway, in a way that they should. You have a good point.
As for point 2, I agree too, but that won't fly either (for the vested interest of many in the crowd interested in being entrepreneurs) :-|
Quick EDIT:
>> where are the non-tech entrepreneurs? Are there solutions that don't
>> require computers anymore? Are there ways to get funding for such a solution?
non-tech entrepreneurs? Like hedge funds? ;)
You ask a very good question, but this being HN, you won't find too much publicity on it. If you are interested, here's one guy who works on that spectrum. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Polak
I agree with your second point, that's the same feeling I got out of the article: "Look! A new market to exploit with your trivial webapps!". There are a lot of problems with this statement, first being that it's not an ideal target for capitalist/consumerist business cases. These people do not have large amounts of disposable income to waste on crap.
Honestly this seems like a largely American issue with their bias against socialist policies. The govt can step in here and improve things for this class of people, but the whole idea of that is untenable to (apparently) the majority of Americans.
I wonder how long it will take for the stink of desperation to become unbearable to the middle/upper class.
1) I don't think entrepreneurs (and tech ones at that) have solved any problems, even for the upper classes they cater to. Instead, they have become popular and profitable the old-fashioned way, by creating and filling a need. Even a solution as fundamental as search on the internet is not really helping me lead a better life--though it does make possible the vast stores of knowledge and likely the entire tech sector (including my livelihood).
2) Given 1) above, the entire article essentially seems to encourage people to exploit the under-exploited markets of the unexotic by creating needs there and fulfilling them. I don't really see how entrepreneurs can, for example, fix the bureaucracy of Veteran's Affairs, even if they had a turnkey case-handling solution to sell to them.
Finally, the author of the article had a pedigree as long as my sleeve, but I didn't see any work in the unexotic fields.
Somewhat related thought: where are the non-tech entrepreneurs? Are there solutions that don't require computers anymore? Are there ways to get funding for such a solution?